Eddie Redmayne And Hollywood’s Cis Problem

[Serena]

Eddie Redmayne And Hollywood's Cis Problem

by Marcy Cook | Tuesday, March 3rd 2015 at 8:00 pm

http://www.themarysue.com/eddie-redmayne-and-hollywoods-cis-problem/


"Who you cast is a representation of the story you want to tell. The body personifies how someone speaks, how they move, and the facial expressions they make – all of which becomes the vehicle for conveying the story. So the act of casting is very important, and only gets more important when the story to be told is not just for entertainment. If you are telling the story of an oppressed subset of society, the casting becomes absolutely vital".

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Do you agree with the casting choice? Please read the full article, it's very interesting!


**modified to meet posting standards**

[ChiGirl]

I have mixed feelings about cis actors playing trans roles.  On the one hand, it is a business and sometimes compromises need to be made to get funding.  There aren't many known trans actors.  And sometimes you do get a wonderful nuanced performance by an actor who seems to appreciate the role they're playing, like Jeffrey Tambor in Transparent.

Then you get things like Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club.  Over the top stereotypical performance and he gives zero recognition to the tg community.  That sickens me.   And I do want to see trans actors in good roles.   And I hope Eddie does the role justice.

The real problem is still how we're portrayed.  I am much more concerned that this movie portrays Lili (I love that name!) as a "normal" man until "he" tries on "his" wife's clothes.  From what I've read, it comes across that way.  I'll reserve judgement, but I don't have a lot faith Lili's life will be treated with the respect it deserves.

[Jayne]

I understand the need to have the best actor for the job but often the casting couch see the best actor as the one who will put the most bums on seats & not who's best suited for the role.
I'd like to see Hollywood produce a film about a trans person by having an transgender actor start the filming pre transition with the filming being ongoing as the trans actor goes through their transition, it's unlikely to happen for many, many years as the studio would have to stretch the filming schedule to accomodate the actors transition, as long as Hollywood is motivated by money insead of artistic intent it's unlikely to happen. This is the only way Hollywood would truly & accurately portray a transition (in my opinion)

[ChiGirl]

I think something like that would require independent funding and/or a strong producer or director.  But something akin to Boyhood with a trans character would be awesome.  Mmm, how do I get some funding?[emoji4]

[Jayne]

I think something like that would require independent funding and/or a strong producer or director.  But something akin to Boyhood with a trans character would be awesome.  Mmm, how do I get some funding?[emoji4]

Um, one of those crowdfunding thingies may work

[Jill F]

I honestly don't have a problem with this.  Hollywood is big business, and one flop can spell the end of your career (and as far as our community should be concerned, this movie needs to do well).  Eddie Redmayne is a fantastic actor and a safe choice.  I would also like to see this movie done well and with masterful performances.   If this film could gain a huge audience and change some hearts and minds about what it's like to be transgender, then it's really a win for everyone.  I would imagine that most A-list actors in Hollywood would give their proverbial left nut for a transgender role these days, as it's a hot topic and is a great vehicle to land yourself some Oscar buzz.   If a trans actress auditioned for such a role, there would be some very stiff competition. 

Of course I would love to see a trans actress in that role, but there frankly aren't many (yet) that are household names. (Seriously, name someone other than Laverne Cox.)  What I fear is that before there are some real breakout trans actors to land these roles, there will likely need to be a glut of low-budget transploitation films, not unlike "Ticked off Trannies With Knives" and/or the second coming of Ed Wood. 

Having a forthcoming major motion picture that sheds positive light upon our community is still progress, and I will happily take it.

[Serena]

Of course I would love to see a trans actress in that role, but there frankly aren't many (yet) that are household names. (Seriously, name someone other than Laverne Cox.)  What I fear is that before there are some real breakout trans actors to land these roles, there will likely need to be a glut of low-budget transploitation films, not unlike "Ticked off Trannies With Knives" and/or the second coming of Ed Wood. 

Yeah but if we don't get the chance for trans actress to be of household names like Laverne Cox with those important roles, then there will never be more trans actors and actresses.

http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/02/28/4-transgender-actresses-who-could-have-been-cast-in-the-danish-girl-2736775?lt_source=external,manual,manual

[Alana_Jane]

Jill, certainly you have a very valid point.  Hollywood is basically big business.  That said, my concern with this film isn't that there's a man playing the part of Lilli Von Elbe, it's more like how they treat the topic.  Do they perpetuate the myths about being Transgender/Transexual?  The problem I see is that Lilli dies due to complications form her surgery to have a womb implanted, talk about invalidating anyone who's sure they're transgender, but not sure about having GCS.  Then I have to wonder: what sort of backlash could come of this film?  I think we'll have a better time with the inde/art-house films, with an occasional documentary thrown in.  We just need to get a fresh out of art school student to follow you around Jill 

-Alana

[DragonBeer]

When Will Hollywood Let Trans Actresses Play Trans Characters?

http://feministing.com/2015/02/28/when-will-hollywood-let-trans-actresses-play-trans-characters/

No known author
February 28th, 2015

Following his Oscar win for The Theory Of Everything, where he portrays the world-famous Stephen Hawking, it has been revealed that actor Eddie Redmayne will be re-creating another incredible life. The life in question belongs to Lili Elbe, the first known transgender woman to transition with surgery.

[suzifrommd]

When Will Hollywood Let Trans Actresses Play Trans Characters?

http://feministing.com/2015/02/28/when-will-hollywood-let-trans-actresses-play-trans-characters/

No known author
February 28th, 2015

Following his Oscar win for The Theory Of Everything, where he portrays the world-famous Stephen Hawking, it has been revealed that actor Eddie Redmayne will be re-creating another incredible life. The life in question belongs to Lili Elbe, the first known transgender woman to transition with surgery.

I have mixed feelings about this editorial. True, Hollywood does tend to like exploiting marginalized groups and we happen to be the latest. OTOH, this woman is truly a pioneer and made lives better for all of us. I also think that anything that raises awareness of our issues without portraying us  negatively can be helpful.

So, I'm not sure.

[Michelle-G]

Let's see . . .

Gay actors play both straight and gay parts, as do straight actors.

Men play women, and vice versa.

Black actors play white roles, old play young, young play old.

In short, everybody else gets to play everything, but for some reason the only roles that trans actors get are trans roles. I call that limiting, and asking that we get more of that kind of tokenization does nothing for trans equality.

When will Hollywood let trans actresses play trans characters? Who cares? A better question is "When Will Hollywood Let Trans Actresses Play ALL Characters?"

[amber roskamp]

the problem is that trans acters never get to play cis roles. They are. Literally limited to playing trans characters regardless of how well they can act. The same goes for actors  with disabilities.

Eddie redmayne already has 2 strikes now in my mind.

Also I hate the big business argument. It shows how often big business ignores ethics, and it shows how apathetic we have become to the fact that businesses ignore ethics.